The Pakistan Policy Blog

NOTE: Bush in joint press conference with France’s Sarkozy speaks of his telephone conversation with Musharraf in which he told him, “You can’t be the president and the head of the military at the same time.” He added that extremism can’t be beaten with extremist tactics.

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte just completed his testimony on Pakistan before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Here are the highlights:

• Pakistan is a country vital to U.S. interests;
• Cooperation with Pakistan is critical to U.S. and NATO’s cause in Afghanistan and contributes heavily to efforts in war on terror;
• Pakistan was “founded on a democratic mandate” and has made “fitful” progress toward the idea of democratic civilian rule. It “seemed” to be on that path till recently.
• State “strongly counseled against” the imposition of emergency rule but Pakistan’s leadership chose not to follow that advice.
• Over time the U.S.-Pakistan relationship has been tumultuous, but after 9/11 Musharraf decided to ally with us. We are together with the Pakistanis in the fight against al-Qaeda.
• Many Pakistanis have said that the U.S. has not been a consistent partner. There is, however, no question that Americans have a stake in Pakistan. There is no question that the U.S. should be closely engaged in helping the Pakistani people fight violent extremism and shaping a democratic Pakistan.
• We strongly disagree with the current government’s decisions, but this should not translate into disengagement.
• Since 9/11:
  • the Pakistani government has arrested or killed more al-Qaeda and Taliban than any other country;
  • Pakistan’s economy has grown rapidly;
  • civil society and media have grown “events of of recent days notwithstanding”;
    • There is a more participatory national debate;
    • Human rights and civil society organizations are more prominent than in the past;
    • Pakistan has become a more moderate and prosperous country since Musharraf has come into power;
    • But only civilian democracy can secure a prosperous future for Pakistan.
• “We” urge Musharraf to resign as chief of army staff before he takes the oath for a second term;
• It won’t be a full transition to democracy, but an important step on that path;
• The U.S. stands with the Pakistani people in urging the government to commit to holding elections as planned. We are doing our part through assistance program to improve electoral mechanisms;
• Thanks to bi-partisan congressional support, assistance to Pakistan is accomplishing a great deal for the U.S. and the Pakistani people:
  • Earthquake assistance has had a positive impact generating goodwill that has lasted to this day;
  • FATA aid package will permanently open this challenged environment to government and opportunity; there are a wide range of programs for that area:
    • Security and law enforcement training;
    • Developmental assistance;
    • Democracy and human rights support;
    • Infrastructural aid;
  • This assistance and the Reconstruction Opportunity Zone legislation are critical to achieving our objectives in the war on terror.
• Military training and Fulbright exchange programs are building essential bridges;
• Cutting off these programs would send a negative signal to the Pakistani people;
• Long-term engagement is the only option for the United States;
• The U.S. cannot afford to have the on-again off-again relationship of the past;
• Pakistan’s future is too vital to our interests to ignore or downgrade;
• The challenge is to deal with the government that supports the Pakistani people and strengthens moderate center against violent extremism;
• With strong Congressional support for the U.S.-Pakistan relationship since 2001, we’ve helped the Pakistanis move down the path of moderation, stability, democracy, and prosperity. We’re asking for Congressional support to renew our commitment to long-term partnership with the Pakistani people;
• There is not a mission more deserving of our considered patience and steady engagement.

Q&A responses:

• “I believe they [the Pakistani military] have their nuclear weapons under effective control.”
• Electoral timetable should be adhered to. If the emergency measures are lifted in the near future, then there is still time to organize “reasonably fair and free elections.” The longer this emergency situation goes on, the more difficult the political atmosphere will become.
• Strong preference is that the government terminate emergency ASAP and get country back on track. Sooner that happens, not only the better for Pakistan’s political development, but also less likely that some agonizing reappraisal of assistance program would be required.
• A number of statutes govern assistance to Pakistan. State hasn’t really gotten to the point of looking to alternatives. Just cataloging of assistance programs and what is or might not be impacted by statues.
• Judgment at the moment: There’s nothing that will be automatically triggered by the current situation. Everything is covered at the moment by appropriate waivers. But if the situation continues, it will undercut the political support for assistance, or certain aspects of it.
• U.S. has a Pakistan policy, not a Musharraf policy. It’s not about one leader. It’s about: helping a country; helping institutions transition, electoral assistance; and developing FATA; support of Pakistani army and government in supporting us in Afghanistan.
• “Basically the political future of Pakistan is for the people of Pakistan to decide.”
• The longer this situation goes on the more difficult it is going to become.
• “In the historical record, there were times that they [India] did try to take advantage of political instability in Pakistan” but don’t appear to be doing that now.”
• If Musharraf doesn’t take off the uniform, there will be principal political repercussions inside Pakistan.
• On Nawaz Sharif’s exile: That’s an issue between the government of Pakistan and Mr. Sharif. Apparently committed to staying out of the country for a decade – we’ll just have to see how that issue evolves.
• Extremists are not many in number, but use more extreme methods and are dangerous in that regard.

Congressmen comments:

• William Delahunt interrupted Negroponte and said, waving his finger and apparently angry, “I think the Pakistani people are on our side.”
• Dana Rohrabacher: “It’s time to drop this guy [Musharraf]” and side with the moderates.
• Elliot Engel: Nawaz Sharif also needs to come back.
• Gary Ackerman: Musharraf a “necessary thug.”
• Dan Burton: If we abandon Musharraf, same thing that happned in Iran with the Shah will happen in a nuclear Pakistan.

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